Friday, August 5, 2011

Today's release of Rise of the Planet of the Apes brings remembrance of the 1968 original and its . . . well,monumental ending. Here's a look at several films in which the Statue of Liberty is destroyed, damaged, or otherwise dirtied.

Planet of the Apes (1968)

Rotted by age and chest-deep in sand, Lady Liberty triggers one of the most memorable revelations (and surprise endings) in all of science fiction when discovered on a beach by shipwrecked space explorer George Taylor.

Cloverfield (2008)

Terrified twentysomethings run for cover when the statue's head is bowled down a city street by a rampaging monster.

Independence Day (1996)

The statue is shown toppled the morning after extraterrestrial invaders destroy many of the world's cities.

X-Men (2000)

The superhero team takes on bad guy Magneto and punches holes in the famous landmark during a battle atop the statue's head and torch.

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

Global warming brings about a new Ice Age which leaves the Statue of Liberty knee-deep in snow and ice.

Deep Impact (1998)

When a comet slams into Earth, the resultant tidal wave engulfs New York and washes the statue away; its head is later seen floating between newly submerged buildings.

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

During a battle with Superman, the evil Nuclear Man tears the statue from its platform and drops it onto a crowded city street; luckily, Superman is close by to save the day — and the statue.

Superman III (1983)

No real damage is done to the statue in this movie, although her crown is undoubtably sullied after a surly and cynical (not to mention dirty) Superman — under the influence of some bad Kryptonite — uses it as a platform (literally) to test pickup lines on the bad guy's girlfriend.

Spaceballs (1987)

The nefarious Dark Helmet's ship, transformed into the vacuum cleaner-wielding "Megamaid", crash-lands onto the beach of a nearby planet, setting up a Planet of the Apes joke complete with apes on horseback.